Summit falls to Mazama in opener; The Storm had a chance to win the game in the final minute, but come up short | Sports

The Storm had a chance to win the game in the final minute, but come up short

Published: September 05. 2009 4:00AM PST

It all came down to a kick.

Trailing 28-26 to Mazama of Klamath Falls on Friday night, Summit missed a 30-yard field goal with 16.5 seconds left in the game that would have given the host Storm the go-ahead score.

Sophomore Cole Thomas' kick went just wide left, and the Storm dropped their 2009 football season opener to the Vikings in a nonconference matchup for the second consecutive year.

“We've got some inexperience, but we're going to build off this,” said Storm senior running back Matt Meagher, who rushed for 246 yards and two touchdowns. “This is the hardest I've ever seen a Summit football team play since I've been here.”

Summit (0-1) showed some resiliency in the fourth quarter after the Storm entered the final period trailing 28-20. With 7:14 left in the quarter, Summit started a 38-yard, eight-play touchdown drive that was capped by quarterback Justin Huckins' eight-yard dive into the end zone on a fourth-and-six play from the Mazama 8-yard line with 3:44 left on the clock.

Down 28-26, the Storm went for a two-point conversion and ran a rollout pass to the left that was stuffed by the Mazama defense.

“This was a learning experience for everyone,” said Huckins, who completed eight of 16 passes for 86 yards with one interception. “You make the most improvement from Week 1 to Week 2.”

The Summit defense came up big on its next series, forcing Mazama to punt after three plays, giving the Storm offense another shot to win the game. Taking over at its own 42-yard line with 2:08 left in the fourth quarter, Summit marched 38 yards to set up Thomas' field-goal attempt.

Viking quarterback Daniel Mathis led Mazama, completing eight of 18 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns. Dylan Carlson added 110 yards rushing for the Vikings.

The Storm led 14-8 at halftime after Brett Campbell ran back a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown and Meagher busted open a run up the middle for a 65-yard touchdown. Mazama came up big in the third quarter, though, scoring 20 points in the first 12 minutes after the half.

The Storm play Churchill in Eugene next week in another nonconference game. Summit opens Intermountain Conference play on Sept. 25 with a road game against The Dalles-Wahtonka.